Stay Montana: Making Montana Memories from Big Sky to Flathead

Distinctly Montana readers voted Stay Montana Best Property Management Service in our 2025 Best of Montana awards, recognizing a company that's redefined what vacation rental management means across the state.

Founded in 2016 by Chris and Jen Torsleff, Stay Montana brought something different to Montana's vacation rental landscape: six decades of combined hospitality experience earned at Ritz Carlton, Vail Resorts, Hilton, and Marriott, applied with a distinctly local touch. The Torsleffs didn't just bring corporate polish to Big Sky country—they brought their family, raising their children Ella and Connor here while building a business rooted in genuine Montana hospitality. In 2022, they expanded ownership to David Moore and Laura Dwight, both longtime team members with deep Flathead Valley roots, making Stay Montana a truly employee-owned Montana company.

With four offices spanning Big Sky, Bozeman, Whitefish, and Bigfork, Stay Montana manages properties from Marina Cay on Flathead Lake to ski-in/ski-out Big Sky retreats. Their approach balances sophisticated revenue management software with old-fashioned personal service—the kind where property owners and guests aren't just accounts, they're relationships. Every property gets detailed inspections, in-house maintenance, and professional housekeeping teams that maintain hotel-standard cleanliness.

What sets Stay Montana apart is how they've woven Montana into their service. Guests find Ella Cookies—a family recipe developed by the owners' daughter—waiting at check-in alongside local coffee, welcome notes, and even a family cookbook. They've earned recognition as Airbnb Superhosts, Vrbo Premier Hosts, and Comparent's Market Leader Award winners, placing them in the top one percent of professional vacation rental managers nationwide.

Stay Montana has kept growing while staying local, recently acquiring Beehive Property Management and Montana Home Vacations—strategic moves that kept Montana companies in Montana hands. Their mission remains simple: creating Montana memories through properties and service that exceed expectations, delivered by a team that actually lives here.